US20110031201A1

US20110031201A1 - Collapsible Rack

Info

Publication number: US20110031201A1
Application number: US12/536,510
Authority: US
Inventors: Po-Ju Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-08-06
Filing date: 2009-08-06
Publication date: 2011-02-10

Abstract

A collapsible grid includes a rear grid, a lower grid and two clips. The rear grid includes a beam, at least two posts connected to the beam and two crossbars each transversely extended from a related one of the posts. The clips are secured to the lower grid. Each of the clips includes an aperture and a recess in communication with the aperture. The aperture can receive a related one of the crossbars so that the lower grid is pivotally connected to the rear grid. The recess can receive a related one of the posts so that the collapsible grid is retained in an extended position.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a collapsible rack and, more particularly, to a collapsible with posts and a base that can be pivoted between a horizontal position for use and a vertical position for storage.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

Racks are often used in bathrooms for storage of staff such as towels. A conventional rack includes posts attached and a base connected to the posts. The posts are attached to a wall. Staff like towels can be laid on the base. A tool such as a screwdriver is used to assemble and dismantle the rack. The cost in storage and transportation of the conventional rack is high because the base is always located at the right angle from the posts so that the conventional rack occupies a large space. The assembling of the conventional rack is troublesome for requiring a tool.
The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a collapsible with posts for attachment to a wall and a base pivotally connected to the posts and movable between a horizontal position for use and a vertical position for storage.
To achieve the foregoing objective, the collapsible rack includes a rear grid, a lower grid and two clips. The rear grid includes a beam, at least two posts connected to the beam and two crossbars each transversely extended from a related one of the posts. The clips are secured to the lower grid. Each of the clips includes an aperture and a recess in communication with the aperture. The aperture can receive a related one of the crossbars so that the lower grid is pivotally connected to the rear grid. The recess can receive a related one of the posts so that the collapsible grid is retained in an extended position.
Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible rack in an extended position according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the collapsible rack shown in FIG. 1, showing pivotal of a hanger in phantom lines.

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the collapsible rack shown in FIG. 2, showing pivotal of two lateral grids in phantom lines.

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the collapsible rack shown in FIG. 3, showing pivotal of a lower grid in phantom lines.

FIG. 5 is a partial, enlarged view of the collapsible rack FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a partial, enlarged view of the collapsible rack in another position than shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a collapsed position of the collapsible rack of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a collapsible rack includes a lower grid 1, a rear grid 2, two connecting units 3 and two lateral grids 4 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The lower grid 1 includes rectilinear elements connected to an annular element.
Each of the connecting units 3 includes a clip 31 secured to the circular element of the lower grid 1 by welding, a recess 32 defined in the clip 31 and an aperture 33 in communication with the recess 32.
The rear grid 2 includes two parallel internal posts 21, two parallel external posts 24, a beam 22 connected to the posts 21 and 24 and two crossbars 23 each transversely extended from a related one of the internal posts 21 beyond a related one of the external posts 24. The free end of each of the crossbars 23 is inserted through the aperture 33 of a related one of the connecting units 3 before it is connected to a block 25. The blocks 25 can be plastic caps provided on the crossbars 23 by adhesion or metal blocks attached to the crossbars 23 by welding. In either case, the blocks 25 are larger than the apertures 33, thus retaining the crossbars 23 within the apertures 33. The external posts 24 are disposed in the recesses 32 of the connecting units 3 so that the lower grid 3 is kept in an extended position. Two rings 27 are secured to the internal posts 21 or the external posts 24.
The hanger 5 is substantially U-shaped. The hanger 5 includes a first portion 53 inserted through the rings 27 so that the hanger 5 is pivotally connected to the rear grid 2. A second portion of the hanger 5 can support a towel for example. The first portion 53 of the hanger 5 is provided with a positioning element 51 for contact with one of the internal posts 21. The positioning element 51 extends perpendicular to the first portion 53 of the hanger 5.
Each of the lateral grids 4 includes rectilinear elements extended between two arched elements. A pin 41 is transversely extended from each of the arched elements of each of the lateral grids 4. Each of the pins 41 is inserted in a ring 26 secured to a related one of the internal posts 21 so that each of the lateral grids 4 is pivotally connected to a related one of the internal posts 21.
To collapse the collapsible rack, the hanger 5 is pivoted on the rear grid 2 so that the second portion 52 of the hanger 5 is located behind the rear grid 2 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the lateral grids 4 are pivoted on the rear grid 2 so that they are located against one another. Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the blocks 25 are pushed, thus disengaging the external posts 24 from the clips 31. Referring to FIG. 7, the lower grid 1 is pivoted relative to the rear grid 2 so that they are substantially in a same plane. That is, the collapsible rack is in a collapsed position.
The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A collapsible grid comprising:

a rear grid comprising:

a beam;

at least two posts connected to the beam; and

two crossbars each transversely extended from a related one of the posts;

a lower grid; and

two clips secured to the lower grid, each of the clips comprising:

an aperture for receiving a related one of the crossbars so that the lower grid is pivotally connected to the rear grid; and

a recess in for receiving a related one of the posts so that the collapsible grid is retained in an extended position.

2. The collapsible grid according to claim 1 comprising two blocks each secured to a related one of the crossbars, wherein the blocks are larger than the apertures of the clips so that they retain the crossbars within the apertures of the clips.

3. The collapsible grid according to claim 1 comprising two rings secured to each of the posts and two arched grids each comprising two pins inserted in the rings secured to a related one of the posts so that the arched grids are pivotally connected to the rear grid.

4. The collapsible grid according to claim 1 comprising two rings secured to the posts and a hanger comprising:

a first portion inserted through the rings so that the hanger is pivotally connected to the rear grid;

a second portion extended from the first portion and used to hanging things; and

a positioning element formed on the first portion and used for contact with one of the posts so that the second portion is retained away from and in front of the rear grid.

5. The collapsible grid according to claim 1, wherein the positioning element extends perpendicular to the first portion of the hanger.